Lounges? Status? Companions Certificates? $200? Know Your Major Platinum Card Differences

I love receiving emails from readers who ask for advice, clarification, or help on certain topics. A particular theme comes up a lot, though. People get their “Platinum” cards mixed up. Most often, it’s The Platinum Card® from American Express and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. (The other two culprits? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.)

Considering it’s mid-year and frequent flyers are evaluating their status plans, there are big welcome promotions running right now (the Delta Amex offers expire in just a few days), and statement credits just renewed for the month and/or second half of the year, this is a great time to address the topic.

To be clear: this post isn’t designed to poke fun at anyone or make people feel bad for confusing the cards. Also, more people seem to have the personal/consumer cards than the business cards, so that’s why we’ll tackle those today.

So Much Platinum (and Gold)

I wrote a post years ago about the confusion that came with Gold, Platinum, and Diamond name crossover in the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Medallion and American Express card ecospheres. (I recently touched on the topic when discussing the rumored new double-mega-ultra-premium Delta Amex Card.)

“Why do you have a Gold credit card if you’re a Delta Diamond or whatever?” a friend asked me. “Why are you using a Gold card if you’re not Gold anymore? And why don’t you have a Diamond credit card this year?” Then he saw another card. “Shouldn’t you use your Reserve card if you’re Reserve level? I thought you’re Diamond!”

That’s where our featured “problem” starts.

You’re not alone if you confuse the Amex Platinum Card and the Delta Amex Platinum. Far from it. Trust me.

The mixup is easy to make because American Express has long been Delta’s cobranded credit card partner. The Amex Platinum Card features a few benefits Delta flyers can use, such as Delta Sky Club access and up to $200 a year airline incidental statement credit. We’ll get to all that in just a few minutes. But the Delta Amex Platinum has far, far fewer bells and whistles.

We’ll cover the major differences I see people mix up. But feel free to continue the discussion in the Comments section below.

Which Cards are What?

Let’s start with visuals.

Here’s the Amex Platinum Card.

Annual Fees

The Amex Platinum Card’s annual fee is $695 (Rates & Fees). The Delta Amex Platinum is $350.

However, American Express announced an Amex Platinum refresh coming this fall. Expect that $695 to climb (Rates & Fees). I keep hearing $895. But we’ll see.

Airport Lounge Access

Whenever someone “new to” or “outside” the points/miles world brings up the Amex Platinum Card, one of the first things they bring up is “that’s the one that gets you into airport lounges, right?” (The next question? “What’s the annual fee?” (Rates & Fees)) 

Eligible Amex Platinum members can enjoy complimentary access to airport lounges worldwide.

• American Express Centurion Lounges when traveling with a confirmed seat on a same-day flight
• Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated or -marketed flight.
  • Receive up to 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. A “Visit” is an entry to one or more Delta Sky Clubs or usage of the Delta Sky Club “Grab and Go” feature at one or more airports for a period of up to 24 hours starting upon the first Delta Sky Club entry or Grab and Go usage, during an Eligible Card Member’s travel on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. A single Visit permits using Delta Sky Club(s) in multiple airports during the 24-hour period.
  • Once all 10 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card. To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more during a calendar year and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Up to two guests may be brought in for $50 per person. (See Rates and Fees)
• Escape Lounge by Centurion Suites (with up to two guests) when traveling on a same-day flight
• Select Plaza Premium Lounges when traveling on a same-day flight
• Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required)

The Priority Pass Select membership allows you one visit per year to the fantastic new Chase Sapphire Lounges. A family friend (and frequent traveler) visited us the other day and I showed him pictures of the San Diego Chase Sapphire Lounge. His reaction? “Whoooaaa.”

The Delta Amex Platinum does not offer any airport lounge access. No Sky Club single visit or day passes (though it did up until fairly recently). No Priority Pass Select, no Plaza Premium, no nothing. Your Delta Platinum Amex alone is not getting you into an airport lounge. (Though I’m sure a commenter will have some amazing story about how it did. 🙂 )

I read and hear cringey stories about people showing up to Delta Sky Clubs and flashing their Delta Platinum Amexes — then throwing tantrums when they aren’t allowed inside. Don’t be that guy or gal.

$200 Airline Incidental Credit

Amex Platinum Card members can earn up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year for eligible airline incidental purchases charged to their cards. Stuff like checked bag fees, onboard purchases of food and drinks, etc. However, the benefit is limited to one eligible carrier you select every year. (Or simply “set it and forget it” if you plan to use the same airline each year.) Delta is one of those carriers.

This post explains the benefit in greater detail. I generally keep a running list of which Delta purchases work — and others that don’t.

The Delta Amex Platinum does not offer such a statement credit.

Companion Certificate

Delta Amex Platinum members receive a Companion Certificate starting the second year of card membership. You can bring someone along “free” when paying for an eligible Delta-marketed trip. The companion only needs to pay some taxes and fees. (Here’s our deep dive into the Companion Certificate.) The Business Delta Amex Platinum also offers this benefit.

The Amex Platinum Card does not have a Companion Certificate.

Elite Status

The Amex Platinum gives members complimentary Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status. The Delta Platinum doesn’t.

Bonus MQD

The Delta Amex Platinum is one of four Delta Amexes giving SkyMiles members $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) each toward Medallion elite status.

No such luck with the Amex Platinum.

Statement Credits (AKA “Coupons”)

Both the Delta Amex Platinum and Amex Platinum Card feature statement credit opportunities. 

In fact, they overlap with one benefit: both cards allow members to earn up to $120 statement credit every four (4) years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee charged to their respective cards. Most of us hold several cards with this benefit, though. Remember, you can “gift” this friends, family, or coworkers who are too cheap (or paranoid) to pay for it themselves and who keep everyone waiting.

Here’s what else the Amex Platinum Card offers:

• Up to $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and earn up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or Uber Eats eats orders in the US annually. (Receive $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December.) Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to the primary cardholder only. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. (Enrollment is required. Terms apply. Uber Cash deposits are made monthly and expire if not used. To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible Amex Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.)
• Up to $199 CLEAR® Plus Statement Credit: Receive up to $199 in statement credits each calendar year for CLEAR Plus membership costs charged to your card. (Enrollment required. Taxes and fees not eligible. Terms apply)
• Up to $200 Hotel Statement Credit: Earn up to $200 back in statement credits each calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel® when you pay with your Platinum Card®. (Terms apply. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.) Read about our FHR stay at Bellagio Las Vegas!
• Fine Hotels + Resorts: Enjoy early check-in and room upgrades (when available), daily breakfast for two (valued at up $60 total each day), a resort or spa credit (varies by property), and guaranteed late check-out. (Terms apply.)
• Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Statement Credit: Earn up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with one or more of the following:
  • Disney+
  • a Disney+ Bundle
  • ESPN+
  • Hulu
  • The New York Times
  • Peacock
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Enrollment is required and terms apply.

• Up to $155 Walmart+ Statement Credit: Earn back the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) plus applicable local sales tax with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your card.
• Up to $100 Shop Saks with Platinum Statement Credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. Read our post about this benefit and remember to start your online Saks shopping sessions through a shopping portal such as Rakuten. (Enrollment is required and terms apply.)
• Up to $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Statement Credit: Earn a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card. You must have an Equinox+ subscription to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. You must charge the full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping is available in the contiguous U.S. only. (Enrollment is required and terms apply.)

Here’s what the Delta Platinum Amex gives you:

• Delta Stays: Earn up to $150 in annual statement credits on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. (Think hotels and vacation rentals.)
• Rideshare Credits: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month (up to $120 annually) on U.S. rideshare purchases made with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto. Enrollment is required and terms apply.
• Resy Credits: Earn up to $120 each year (up to $10 each month) in statement credits for purchases made with U.S. Resy restaurants.

Final Approach

That pretty much covers most of it. Feel free to add your thoughts, analyses, talking points, and other two cents in the Comments section below!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.